Date of Award

5-2018

Document Type

Thesis open access

Department

Music

First Advisor

Kimberlyn Montford

Abstract

The Trinity University Special Collections contains an anonymous early Renaissance Gradual manuscript, gifted to the university by the estate of a well-traveled major donor. There is no other information regarding the bequest. The manuscript lacks archival tags and bibliographic records, and scholars outside the Trinity community are unaware of the item. As a result, the manuscript sits untouched.

Gradual manuscripts are records of historical liturgical practice, and also serve as reflections of local usage, allowing a glimpse into traditions that have long been lost. This project examines and catalogues the content of this resource and seeks to situate it through analysis of its contents, marginalia, physical condition and treatment, and liturgical associations. Comparison study of notation and script suggest a preliminary compilation date of approximately 1480-1520, in the early Renaissance. Marginalia and certain spellings locate the manuscript for at least a period of its existence in Spain, and the inclusion of certain chants indicates an association with the Dominican Order.

The initial transcription of the chants unique to this collection as well as digitization of its folios should encourage further research. While many details of this manuscript remain unexplored, this thesis enables information on this unattributed treasure to circulate in the academic world, so that the Trinity manuscript can be studied alongside and with reference to contemporary manuscripts worldwide.

Comments

Digitized version of the Dominican Gradual:

https://cdm16264.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16264coll11/id/4/rec/1

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